The 240gr XTP MAG is the only bullet I use in my 454 Raging Bull revolver with an 8" barrel. It is also the only bullet I use (with Hornady sabots) in my T/C Omega rifle.
I keep a couple hundred of these bullets on hand at all times. For deer loads in the revolver, I use near max loads of H110 powder. For deer with the Omega, I use 120gr. of FF 777 powder. The deer I have shot with these bullets left good blood trails and went down soon. I have recovered bullets shot by both the revolver and the rifle that went diagonally through the whole deer and were under the skin on the far side and they were perfect mushrooms with little weight loss.
For practice, I load these bullets with moderate loads of Tightgroup powder for the revolver and 60 grains of FF 777 in the Omega. I have not shot a deer with these loads, but they mushroom slightly in the sand berm I shoot into.
All these loads are extremely accurate in both revolver and rifle. Buying these bullets in the hundred pack boxes is quite a bit less expensive than buying the 20 packs T/C sells.
I have never hunted black bear, but if I did I might consider using the 300 gr. XTP Mag bullets. I tried a box of these, but found they raised the recoil of my revolver alot and mushroomed less. However, they would probably be great for going through the shoulder bone of a bear.
In summery, for my deer hunting needs, I have not found anything that beats the 240 XTP MAG bullets.
